(Cransmitted via Paotingfu). ath June. a Chancellor of the Japanese legation, (1) Weare deeply grieved to learn that
named Akira Sugiyama (T's'ing San-shan), was murdered by) number of outlaws outside the Yungting Gate of Peking on the 11th of the month. It is the duty of the authorities to be al to protect foreign olticials obid us, and now that outlaws are inking turbances this watchfulness over their well-being should be all the more strict. We have already repeatedly urged upon the local authorities to detail men specially to patrol the vicinity where foreigners happen to be, to protect them and to arrest at once all who may interfere with them. In what a state is the em dition of the country then that we find, even within the precincts of the Imperial residence, our military and civil officials neglecting their duty insomuch that a Chancellor of the Japanese legation has now been murdered? How is it that, failing to vive due protection, the officials lmve also failed to arrest any of the perpetrators? We hereby command the Cumniandaut of the Peking Gendarmerie to allow a certain time to his subordinates to effect the arrest of the murderers, in order that they may punished to the utmost extent of the law, failing which the guilty officials concerned are to be severely denounced to the Throne.
(2) OF late the vicinity of the Imperial been disturbed by the rioting Chuan outlaws and even the Capital itself has not escaped from them. We have not only repeatedly decreed that these outlaws must be dispersed, but have also commanded the officers at' the head of the Imperial garrison and Commanders of Corps in the vicinity of the Capital to detail troops to preserve the peace and prevent further outbreaks. But it seems that, in spite of this, murder and arson are constantly being reported, while traitors and outlaws continue manufactariug all sorts of rumours exciting even the well-behaved to look with enmity on the Christians. The laws of the Empire are despised and held lighter than a feather. It does not matter whether we have clear proof of murders inflicted by organised outlaws, or that others have falsely assumed the names of law-abiding people, but so long "s they refuse to obey the commands of the authorities [they are outlaws]. We would ask whether in the history of any established Gorerament there has been any instance of its encouraging rebel subjects to conspire against itself? Moreover, we have discovered that there are actually subjects of ours who have joined the Ihe Chuan Society [the word min," subjects, is here meant to convey that they are law-abiding people.—Transla-for], and organised themselves into bands, as well as revolutionary society outlaws and ruffians who have joined them for the purpose of pillage and plunder.
We ordered Kang Yi and Chao Shu-chiao to proceed yesterday to Lianghsiang and Chochou [two hsien cities not many
claim the benevolent policy of the Throne miles from Peking.—' racer] to pro-and accordingly, the law-abiding Ihe Ch'uans immediately drew up bonds to obey our commands, tore down their general assembly shed sand successively dispersed. This shows clearly that the murders and arson reported from various places are really the work of traitors and outlaws.
The only course for the Government to pursue is, therefore, to make a discrimination between those who create disturbances—to be treated as outlaws and severely punished—and those who keep quiet who are to he looked upon as Law-abiding subjects. We hereby command Sung Ch'ing (Commander of the Szechuen Corps) to send General Ma Yiéi-kun with troops to patrol.the vicinity of the Capital and attack all outlaws en route, capturing their head men and dispersing their followers. This should he the chief objective of the said force. The strictest discipline must also be observed and soldiers prevented from seeking excuses to create distur-Dances. It will then be easy to distin-guise the law-abiding and peaceful from others. Let this decree be made known to all.
15th June.
(1) Yesterday, owing to the disturbances caused by the Ihe Ch'uan outlaws inside the Capital, we commanded the Commandant of the Gendarmerie to make strict search for the chief rioters and to patrol the city carefully and watchfwlly. Previous to this, certain persons who had been caught manufacturing rumours and exciting the masses were handed to the Board of Punishments for trial and subsequently summarily decapitated. But in spite this, numerous fires were'started, as usual, inside the Capital last night, and eve: more, there were men who, having stirred up the mob, daringly headed them, arms in hand, before the sight of all, shouting and te, eagerly seeking" for enemies. Men were slain before the eyes of the Government troops who lifted not finger to stop, them, allowing them to work their own will and keeping open the city gates for the mob to go in and out. The consequence has been that panies have been created amongst the people of the capital several times a day. An uneasiness pervades all classes. And all these disturbances are allowed to proceed within the very shadow of the Imperial Palaces! If measures be not enacted to not be able to depict the result. We severely punish such actions words will hereby command the Commandant of the Gendarmerie to give strict injunctions to the local authorities [to prevent further disturbances.) We further command that the Commanders of the Peking Field Force [Prince Ching, Kang Yi, etc.,], the Hushéng Corps [Pritce Tuan] and the Middle Corps of the Grand Army of the North (Jung Lu's own Division] combine and send out cavalry and infantry to overawe the mob and exercise extra care in preventing further disturbances. If they should find any one with weapons in his hands, crying, out"slay!", they are tu arrest such onthe spot and hand him over to the Gendarmerie who have our orders to summarily decapitate such offenders. The said Commanders are further ordered to_give a certain period of time to their subordinates arrest the chief ringleaders who are to be captured us soon as possible. They are forbidden to show further indifference and listlessness in stopping disturbances. Tfany parties of soldiers be found to be indifferent to their duties, the officers are to be called to account ind denounced to' the Throne. Moreover, the duty of opening and closing the city gates is a most important. one an we hereby appoint the following high officials, namely, Ch'ung Hsun, Hsiang Pv, Fang Shen, liu, K* Meng-nieh, Ying Sin, Sung Ho, Sé-pu-cheng-ngéh, and 'T3 Yun (all Manchus) to look after the nine city gates of the Capital. They will superintend the opening and closing of the said nine gates and keep a watelt on the trafic of people it i the city. The pel five cities of the Capital are also to give aid in the matter and diligently help to search for outlaws. This duty especially devolves upon the Censor of the Middle City, Chen Pi-ch'ang, to take the lead of his brother Censors. In addition to the above, we hereby command I K'uang, Prince Ching, 1st Order; Tsai Yi, Prince Tuan, 2nd "Order; Prince Tsai Lan, Srd Order; and the Grand Secretary Jung Lu to send officers with bodies of cavalry and foot to act in conjunction with the local civil and military officials in obeying our commands. Should there be any more lack of diligence in preventing riots, these officials are to be severely denounced to the Throne for punishment, (By way of Helampo.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.